LOS ANGELES, April 30, 2012 – Marlin Equity Partners (“Marlin”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the Messaging and Mediation product businesses from Openwave Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: UPIP, formerly OPWV) (“Openwave”). Marlin has renamed the acquired businesses Openwave Messaging and Openwave Mobility (formerly Mediation) and will operate each business as a standalone platform.
Openwave Messaging provides core e-mail and voicemail software solutions to major telecommunications service providers, mobile operators and cable operators. Openwave Mobility provides software solutions to mobile carriers that address the rising costs of consumer data usage by enhancing the profitability and efficiency of IP traffic over 3G/4G mobile networks.
“We are extremely enthusiastic about the opportunities we see in Mobility and Messaging’s core markets and believe each has established itself as a leader among its peers,” stated Bart Foster, software operating partner at Marlin. “With dedicated resources and a renewed strategic focus, both businesses are positioned to continue to capitalize on positive trends within their respective industries.”
Nick Kaiser, a partner at Marlin, added “This transaction gives us the opportunity to create two leading software companies focused on providing carrier-grade solutions. We plan to make the necessary investments in both businesses to continue to deliver marketleading software to Openwave’s global customer base. We look forward to partnering with Openwave’s talented employees and executives to deliver solutions that maximize the value of an operator’s network assets.”
About Marlin Equity Partners
Marlin Equity Partners is a Los Angeles, California-based private investment firm with over $1 billion of capital under management. The firm is focused on providing corporate parents, shareholders and other stakeholders with tailored solutions that meet their business and liquidity needs. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries that are in the process of undergoing varying degrees of operational, financial or market-driven change where its capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthens a company’s outlook and enhances value. Since its inception, Marlin, through its group of funds and related companies, has successfully completed over 50 acquisitions. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.
About Openwave Messaging
Openwave Messaging is a Redwood City, California-based leading global provider of software solutions, delivering a world class, next generation converged messaging platform with cloud and social integration capabilities. The company’s solutions provide core e-mail and voicemail software solutions to major telecommunications service providers, mobile operators and cable operators. The solution set includes integrated email, calendar, contacts and task management with advanced groupware features such as information management and document sharing, along with cutting-edge social network integration with full cloud functionality. For more information, please visit www.owmessaging.com.
About Openwave Mobility
Openwave Mobility is a Redwood City, California-based leading software innovator that provides mobile carriers around the world with video optimization and data plan management solutions that create new revenue opportunities and dramatically reduce costs. The company provides software solutions to mobile carriers that address the rising costs of consumer data usage by enhancing the profitability and efficiency of IP traffic over 3G/4G mobile networks through their Network Congestion Control and Price Plan Innovation technologies. For more information, please visit www.owmobility.com.
For additional information, please contact Peter Spasov at (310) 364-0100 or via e-mail at pspasov@marlinequity.com.